Silo.



T. E. BAGUS.

SILO. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9,1912

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T. B. BAGUS.

SILO.

APPLICATION FILED PER-9,1912. 1,125,489. Patented Jan.19,1915.

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THOMAS E. BACUS. or ADA, Kansas.

SILO.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

lPatentedJan. 19,1915.

Application filed February 9, 1912. Serial No. 676,663.

To all whom it may concern .7

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. BACUS, citizen of the United States, residing at Ada, in the county of Ottawa and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Silos, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to silos or like constructions, and has for its main object the provision of a relatively cheap, easily cone structed, readily assembled and entirely effective construction of this character.

A further object is the provision in connection with a silo composed of staves, of means whereby the shrinkage of the staves may be taken up and particularly the provision in connection with a silo'formed of staves, of a plurality of internal supporting rings or rims formed of sections and connected to each other so that the sections may be either expanded or contracted, so as to allow for any expansion or contraction of the staves laterally.

A further object is to provide in a silo an intermediate bracing ring or rim which is vertically shiftable so that 1t may be raised to the top of the silo in course of filling and so that as the contents of the silo are used, said intermediate rim may be lowered to protect the silo from collapse.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the silo structure with the roof removed. Fig. 2 is a diametrical vertical section. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the uppermost rim or bracing ring and a portion of a rafter, this figure showing the connection between the ring and the rafter. Fig. l is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of the rafter and the iron which connects the rafter-to the rim, the rim being in section. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the connecting members between the rim sections, the rim being in section. Fig.

6 is an end elevation of the device for connecting the sections of the wood rim together, the rim being in section. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a modified form of connecting means. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of one of the staves forming the wall of the silo and a portion of the adjacent wood rim, and an elevation of one of the U- bolts holding the hoop to the staves and the staves to the wood rim.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the viewsof the drawing by the same reference characters.

Inthe preferred form of my construction, the body of the silo is composed of vertically disposed staves 2, although in many respects my invention is adapted to be applied to silos composed of artificial stone or concrete. The staves may extend longitudinally the whole of the length of the silo or may be constructed in sections spliced together as will be hereinafter described. The staves may be held in place by means of hoops 3 or in any other suitable manner, these hoops being preferably made in sections, the sections of the hoops being connected to each other by means of metal couplings.

Preferably the hoops are composed of three sections of five-eighths inch iron, the sections being connected together by con plings whereby the hoop may be contracted. As illustrated in Fig. 1, these couplings consist of blocks 4 having passages extending longitudinally therethrough, through which passages the ends of the hoop sections pass. The ends of the hoop sections are screw-threaded and nuts P engage with these screw-threaded ends and thus permit the hoops to be contracted or expanded. I havefound in practice that where the sections of the hoop are three in number the couplings should be capable of contracting the hoop 8 inches for each coupling, or 2 f for the entire hoop.

The staves 2 are supported on any suitable base 5, which is shown as made of concrete. The interior of the silo is supported by means of a. plurality of rims or rings 6, 7 and 8', the bracing rim 6 being shown at the top of the silo, the ring 8 at the bottom thereof, and the ring 7 being intermediate between the rings 6 and 8, and being vertically shiftable, as will be hereinafter described- Each of these rings is constructed in precisely the same manner, and hence a description of one will be applicable to all the rings 6, 7 and 8. These bracing rings are preferably composed of wood, each ring being made in a plurality of sections, shown as six in number, connected by expansible and contractible couplings. Preferably, there is a space of at least 2 between each of the sections 9 of the rim, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Disposed upon the outer and inner faces a nut '14:. The extremities of the brackets 12' tion at one end by a bolt passing through V one of the rim sections or in any other suitable manner and held to the other rim sections by means of a bolt 11 passing through the slots of the plates.

The couplings I prefer to use for contracting and expanding therim sections are preferably'of the form shown in Figs. 5,and 7. Disposed upon one face of the rim sections are the metallic brackets or brace blocks 12, each of the brackets being held to the adjacent rim sections by a bolt 18 provided with are perforated for the passage of a tightening bolt or screw 15. This tightening screw in the form illustrated in Fig. 6 is provided at one end with a head 16 and is also provided with the nuts 17 and 17 disposed on 1 each side of the adjacent bracket.

By unscrewing oneof the nuts and rotating the other nut, the brackets 12 will be drawn toward each other and will thus draw the sections of the wood rims together, By rotating the nuts in a reverse direction, it will be obvious thatthe brackets 12 and as a consequence the sections of the wood rim will be forced apart from each other. In the form shown in Fig. 7 the brackets 12 are connected by means of a screw rod 15'" provided with a head at its middle and having.

reversely disposed screw threads on each side of the head which screw threadedly engage the extremities of the brackets. By rotating this screw rod 15' in one or the other direction, the wood rims may be drawn toward or forced away from each other.

After the silo'has been put up and as the staves shrink, the brackets 12 are drawn toward each other, thus contracting the wood rims 6, 7 and 8, and thus permitting or aocommodating shrinkage of the staves. At the same time, the hoops 3 are taken up by means of the couplings 4 so that the staves are forced into tight engagement with each other. This is done from time to time while the shrinkage of the staves lasts, and keeps the siloat all times tight and air proof.

While the bracing rims or rings 6, 7 and 8 are all of the same construction, the rim or ring 7 is vertically shifjtable in the length of the silo and is not permanently disposed at the middle of the silo. The middle rim or ring 7 is normally adjusted to a less diameter than the body of the silo, and therefore may be raised in the course ofiilling, and asthe contents of the silo are used the said middle rim is lowered to protect the silo from collapse. When the rim reaches'the middle of the vsilo, it may be permanently expanded and held against any further movement. Thus, when the entire silo is emptied, the silo is braced at its top, bottom and middle. This central rim 7 also protects the silo from collapse in cases where the silo is subjected to heat. 7

The wood rim 7 may be supported in any suitable manner but I'have shown the rim supported by cords-and counterweights, the rim being slightly heavier than the counterweight so that it will follow the ensilage down as the ensila-ge is removed, the cords and counterweights permitting the wood rims to be very readily drawn up as the silo is filled. j i

'The rim is not connected to the silo, as before explained, but the rims 6 and 8 are connected to the-walls ofthe silo formed by the staves 2,Iby means of the U-shaped bolts or clips 18, illustrated in Fig. 8. *These clips pass around the hoops 3,'pass through the embraced by the clips 18. Preferably, t here isone of these clips 18 for each of the sections 9 composing therim. 1

Where provisionis made for thetaking I up of shrinkage of the wood staves forming the wall ofthe' silo, provision must be also 7 made whereby thewall of the silomay be contracted or expanded independentlyof the roof. If the roof raftersare nailed to the staves or otherwise rigidly connected therewith, andshrinkage is taken up, either the staves are pushed out .ofposition, or else the roof is buckled. i r

My invention 'contemplatesthe provision of means whereby while-thereof is con;

nected to the body of'the silo, the body of the silo is yet independently contractible and expansible relative tothe roof. For this purpose, I provide a plurality of rafter anchor irons, designated 21, and illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. 'These'a'nchorirons each consist of an angular shaped iron whose base is boltedto the section 9;of the rim .6,

and which is formed at one end of-the base with the upwardly extending flange 22 This flange is triangularin face View" so as to fit against the extremity of the adjacent roof rafter 23. The base of the anchor 21 is longitudinally slotted as at 24. -The anchor iron 21 is connected-to the section 9 of the rim 6 by meansof a bolt26, which passes through the slot 24 and through a slot 27 in the rim 6; The bolt is preferably provided other end a nut. By reason of the fact that the rim section is longitudinally slotted as at 27, the section 9 of the wood rim 6 may be longitudinally shifted without affecting the position of the anchor iron.

The anchor iron is slotted parallel to the flange 22 to provide for an expansion or contraction of the rim 6, and also providing for an expansion or contraction of the rafter 23. Ihe slot 27 in the rim will allow the wood forming the rim section to expand or contract without disturbing the roof, while the slot 24: will allow the rim or plate 21 to move inward or outward without disturbing the roof. By this construction the shrinkage of the staves may be taken up without affecting the roof or the staves, and without .causing the staves to be pushed out of place or the roof to be buckled. It will be seen that by reason of the roof being attached to the upper rim or ring 6 by bolts, the roof may be taken off at any time without damage. The staves extend up beyond the upper rim about-an inch except at the intersection of a rafter where the end of the stave is cut 013? flush with the inner face of the rim to permit the projection of the rafter.

Disposed upon the rafters in any suitable manner is the roofing 28, which may be of any suitable material, but is preferably composed of rubberoid roofing. This rubberoid roofing extends beyond the outer face of the wall of the silo, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

It will be seen that I have provided with this construction a means whereby the roof may be operatively connected to the body of the silo, which will, however, permit a taking up of shrinkage in the staves forming the body of the silo without aflecting the roof, and which will permit the roof to be removed or replaced at any time without trouble. It will also be seen that I have provided a very strong and substantial anchorage between the roof and the silo body, and have provided connecting devices, which, while rigidly connecting the bracing rims, permit the sections of each rim to be drawn toward each other or forced apart from each other for contracting or expand-- ing said rims.

As before stated, certain details of my construction may be used with a silo not constructed of vertically disposed staves,

and might, indeed, be used even with a silo constructed of concrete or brick. For instance, I do not wish to be limited to the use of the interior bracing rings 6, 7 and 8, with a silo composed of vertical staves, although these bracing rings, particularly the rings 6 and 8, are particularly adapted to be used with such construction because they permit the expansion and contraction of the silo wall. The bracing ring 7 which moves vertically from the upper end of the silo to the middle thereof, or below the middle, if desired, is capable of use with a concrete or brick silo, as it will perform its function of bracing the silo wall in either case.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is 1. In a silo, a horizontally disposed internal annular brace bearing against the silo walls and disconnected therefrom, said brace being vertically shiftable the entire length of the silo, said brace being contractible and expansible.

2. A silo, having annular interior braces at its upper and lower ends and an inter-- mediate annular brace expansible against the inner wall of the silo, and vertically shiftable the entire length thereof.

3. A silo having ,upper vand lower sectional annular bracing rims bearing against the interior face of the silo, an intermediate annular sectional bracing rim also bearing against the inner'face of the silo, and expansible and contractible means connecting said sections of the bracing rims, said intermediate rim being disconnected from the silo wall and being vertically shiftable the entire length of the silo.

4. A silo having an interior annular bracing rim bearing against the interior face of the silo wall and vertically shiftable therein the entire length of the silo, said rim being composed of spaced sections, brackets having outstanding lugs mounted upon the faces of the sections, and screw rods for the brackets whereby the brackets may be drawn apart or forced together to expand or contract the rim.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, THOMAS E. BACUS. [L.S.]

Witnesses:

W. E. MCCLEAN, I. T. Lu BARON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. U. 

